Delight as community project in Tern Hill is officially opened

Photo (l-to-r): Lt Col Shannon, Commanding Officer for 1st Battalion The Royal Irish; Shropshire Council Cabinet member Tim Barker; Geoff Russell, town crier for Market Drayton.

What was previously an area of unsightly waste ground in Tern Hill is now a new multi-use games area (MUGA), following a Shropshire Armed Forces Community Covenant (SAFCC)-funded project.

Along with the 1st Royal Irish Regiment, the SAFCC part-funded project, built by Lightmain, is accessible to the entire community and helps build upon the good practices already in place through a shared facility.

Invited to the grand opening of the facility were the town crier of Market Drayton, who declared the MUGA open, Shropshire Council Cabinet member Tim Barker, military personnel, and families in the local community.

Building the MUGA has enhanced the sparse local facilities and provides local people with a focal point to integrate and get active in a safe, modern and aesthetically-pleasing environment.

The facility has capacity for a number of sports to be played including football, netball, basketball, tennis and handball, therefore increasing its suitability to the wider community.

Tim Barker, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for the Shropshire Armed Forces Community Covenant, said:

“One of the most important aspects of the Community Covenant is bringing military and civilian communities together, and I’m confident that this new facility will help integrate all local residents, while at the same time, providing a much-needed boost to facilities in the area.”

 Shropshire Council signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant in May 2012, a voluntary statement of mutual support between the civilian and Armed Forces communities.  For more information, please visit shropshire.gov.uk/SAFCC and follow @ShropshireAFCC.